GPD helps daughter of flood victim

GRAFTON — The Grafton Police Department was able to raise $1,535 for the teenage daughter of a woman swept away by floodwater last December.

Heather Bardsley’s daughter, Abbey Halley, who was age 13 around the time of her mother’s death, was very close to her mother. Abbey, of Grafton, lived with her mother and continues to live in the same home with her father Josh Halley, Bardsley’s longtime companion.

“Most of the donations were local, with a few out-of-town people passing through, who saw it on the news and dropped a donation off,” Grafton Police Chief Marshall Lewis said. “To me it is indicative of the care the community here in Grafton has towards its residents in a time of need.”

Lewis was compelled to lead an effort to raise funds and the spirits of Abbey after he was involved in the agonizing and painstaking investigation of Bardsley, 42, initially as a missing person, Lewis explained.

Near the Halley home on North Cedar Street, on Dec. 26, 2015, as a nearby creek flash flooded, it was presumed rushing water in the creek’s crossing swept Bardsley away after she was dropped off adjacent to her house by friends. A missing person report was filed with the Grafton police 16 hours later on Dec. 27. Her body was discovered March 10 just off of Great River Road.

“This has affected the community and touched our hearts. I want to help Abbey now,” Lewis said at the time. “During the family’s ordeal, I got close with the family.”

Lewis was especially intent on being able to purchase items that would directly benefit Abbey.

“Heather is still here with the community in spirit and that is evident by talking to local people,” Lewis said. “They tell story after story of ‘seeing a cardinal’ and knowing it was Heather sending a sign, or something strange happening to them at the local Amoco and again knowing it ‘was Heather.’”